diff --git a/PyMca5/PyMcaGui/io/QSourceSelector.py b/PyMca5/PyMcaGui/io/QSourceSelector.py
index f70633967..f7d4f2a5a 100644
--- a/PyMca5/PyMcaGui/io/QSourceSelector.py
+++ b/PyMca5/PyMcaGui/io/QSourceSelector.py
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ def openSource(self, sourcename, specsession=None):
     def openFile(self, filename=None, justloaded=None, specsession=False):
         _logger.debug("openfile = %s", filename)
         staticDialog = False
+        fileFilter = None
         if specsession == "bliss":
             specsession = False
             session = filename
@@ -243,11 +244,12 @@ def openFile(self, filename=None, justloaded=None, specsession=False):
                                     "No shared memory source named %s" % key)
                 return
 
-        self._emitSourceSelectedOrReloaded(filename, key)
+        self._emitSourceSelectedOrReloaded(filename, key, filefilter=fileFilter)
 
-    def _emitSourceSelectedOrReloaded(self, filename, key):
+    def _emitSourceSelectedOrReloaded(self, filename, key, filefilter=None):
         ddict = {}
         ddict["event"] = "NewSourceSelected"
+        ddict["filter"] = filefilter
         if key in self.mapCombo.keys():
             if self.mapCombo[key] == filename:
                 #Reloaded event
diff --git a/PyMca5/PyMcaGui/pymca/QDispatcher.py b/PyMca5/PyMcaGui/pymca/QDispatcher.py
index 856a408f7..3418fcb2d 100644
--- a/PyMca5/PyMcaGui/pymca/QDispatcher.py
+++ b/PyMca5/PyMcaGui/pymca/QDispatcher.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #/*##########################################################################
-# Copyright (C) 2004-2023 European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
+# Copyright (C) 2004-2024 European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
 #
 # This file is part of the PyMca X-ray Fluorescence Toolkit developed at
 # the ESRF.
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ def __init__(self, parent=None, pluginsIcon=False):
                         "JCAMP-DX Files (*.jdx *.JDX *.dx *.DX)"]
         if QDataSource.NEXUS:
             fileTypeList.append("HDF5 Files (*.nxs *.hdf *.h5 *.hdf5)")
+            if "silx" in sys.modules:
+                fileTypeList.append("HDF5-like Files (*)")
         fileTypeList.append("All Files (*)")
 
         self.sourceSelector = QSourceSelector.QSourceSelector(self,
@@ -250,7 +252,15 @@ def _sourceSelectorSlot(self, ddict):
         _logger.debug("_sourceSelectorSlot(self, ddict)")
         _logger.debug("ddict = %s", ddict)
         if ddict["event"] == "NewSourceSelected":
-            source = QDataSource.QDataSource(ddict["sourcelist"])
+            # use the supplied filter in case of HDF5-like (silx)
+            ffilter = ddict.get("filter", "None")
+            if ffilter in [None, "None"]:
+                source_type = None
+            elif ffilter.startswith("HDF5"):
+                source_type = QDataSource.NexusDataSource.SOURCE_TYPE
+            else:
+                source_type = None
+            source = QDataSource.QDataSource(ddict["sourcelist"], source_type=source_type)
             self.sourceList.append(source)
             sourceType = source.sourceType
             self.selectorWidget[sourceType].setDataSource(source)
@@ -373,4 +383,5 @@ def test():
     app.exec()
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
+    logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG)
     test()